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pontificate

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To pontificate is to express your opinion in an annoying way, often because you go on too long or because you are too much of a know-it-all.

(verb)

An example of pontificate is the actions of a self-important professor who rambles on and on.

See pontificate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the office, or term of office, of a pontiff

Origin: L pontificatus < pontifex: see pontiff

intransitive verb pontificated, pontificating

to officiate as a pontiff
to speak or act in a pompous or dogmatic way

Origin: < ML pontificatus, pp. of pontificare

Related Forms:

pontificator noun

See pontificate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The office or term of office of a pontiff.

intransitive verb (-kātˌ) pon·tif·i·cat·ed, pon·tif·i·cat·ing, pon·tif·i·cates

To express opinions or judgments in a dogmatic way.
To administer the office of a pontiff.

Origin:

Origin: Latin pontificātus

Origin: , from pontifex, pontific-, pontifex; see pontifex

Origin: . V., from Medieval Latin pontificāre, pontificāt-, to act as an ecclesiastic

Origin: , from Latin pontifex

Related Forms:

pon·tifˌi·caˈtion noun

pon·tifˈi·caˌtor noun

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